Farm Diary May 20 2009

There was talk of failed crops and dramatic reductions in yield and quality across a range of cereal and root crops if it did not rain soon.

Now that the weather has turned, it seems set to remain unsettled for the time being. After such a dry spring, it was bound to balance out very soon, or it would turn into a drought, which many were beginning to fear in the worst-affected areas.

Temperatures have dropped sharply and with the windy conditions, it certainly feels quite cold, but the grass aftermaths are responding to the moisture, which has washed the fertilizer in nicely.

The silage operation went without a single glitch last week and after carting until midnight on the first day, it was all in by 9pm the following night, so we could get it sheeted before the rain; another brilliant effort by our contractors, Glebedales.

We had a very good crop of mostly newly seeded grass and clover, and the quality should be superb; conditions were excellent, and the grass wilted well in the wind.

I have not been as happy with the seal of the heavy green sheets on our silage clamps as I used to be when we threw thousands of old tyres on to the clamps, placing them next to one another until the whole clamp was covered, and we were hot, tired and covered in the filthy water that always stayed in the tyre (along with the odd rat) whatever the weather. These days, we don't have the tyres, or the will to start such a marathon with the size and number of clamps that we now have.

To try to achieve the same result without the tyres, I have invested in some 'cling-film' for the clamps this year, to see if it improves the seal, and minimises waste. This is a rather expensive thin film of clear plastic, which is rolled out on the clamp, underneath the traditional black plastic sheet. The idea is that the film of plastic seals the grass more effectively, especially around the edges of the clamp, where one is more likely to get wastage. Once put in place, the amount of air beneath this film is vastly less, and is used up rapidly as the grass starts to ferment, sucking the 'cling film' on to the grass. Let's hope it works!

With the RPA and Farm Assurance inspections behind us, the maize growing nicely and the first cut of silage in the clamp, we are relaxed.

There has been no need to apply any dirty water on to the grass aftermaths as yet, and I have bought a new pump for the job, that will increase efficiency from 60 per cent (probably nearer 40 per cent with our worn out pump) to over 80 per cent.

To be fair, it's a different job now that there is no solid at all, only water. I should be able to run this pump at half the tractor revs due to the power requirement being much lower, and this will save a lot of fuel. The output of this pump will also be much greater, and just for good measure it is much cheaper than the slurry pumps which we has used over the years. We look forward to having a go when it arrives, if the conditions are suitable.

Whilst the German workers enjoyed their umpteenth holiday of 2009, we have been busy putting down substantial foundations and complex concrete slabs for the electricity transformer, and the control room (which will be the nerve centre for the anaerobic digester operations).

This week, James is putting down the substantial concrete slab for the 'Combined Heat and Power Unit', that is the engine and generator. This container arrives in two weeks, will weigh 35 tonnes, and have a vertical exhaust stack alongside, some 30 feet high. A rather special crane (with a special price) will be hired in order to lift this valuable piece of kit into place, and I am trying to think of anything else it can do whilst it is here (rearrange some sheds maybe?).

Turning to countryside matters, I have not heard the cuckoo in Plaistow this year, which is very odd. The nightingales are around, and could be heard very clearly at night before the weather turned wet and windy. The wild birds have enjoyed the rain, and the dawn chorus is at its best at this time of year.

We have had a spectacular display of blossom this spring, and the woodlands have been a picture of wild flowers, with the bluebell carpet appearing almost overnight, changing the scenery, and bathing the woods in a blanket of blue.

The oak was in leaf well before the ash, which means a dry summer, and our weather men are talking of a 'barbecue summer'. That's a new phrase for me, since when do we talk of barbecue summers in this country and what does it mean? One barbecue does not make a summer.

Police forces are to stop policing hunts, I have learned this week. New guidance from Acpo (Association of Chief Police Officers) has said that gathering evidence of illegal hunting is too difficult, and they have better things to do. Hunts will no longer be required to inform police in advance of the time and place of meets, and their planned routes.

To show that they have had a belly full of this stupid act, Richard Brunstrom, Chief Constable of North Wales, said: "Hunting is not a police priority; it is not illegal to wear a red coat and ride a horse in a public place."

Seven hundred hours of parliamentary time was spent on this controversial (stupid?) law, which is almost as much as a minority of MPs spent maximising their expenses!